Mangrove Pit Viper – Venomous – Dangerous

Mangrove Pit Viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) is Dangerous and Bites Frequently. Photo courtesy of Carlton Wagner and Michael Miller, used with permission.Not found near homes much – but, here is one…

Habitat: Usually near water and very wet areas like mangroves along the ocean or brackish water. However, recently one was found on a sidewalk by a bungalow on the island of Koh Phi Phi in Krabi province, Thailand. They like stream banks with good cover – low lying plants that they can hide under. They also may like hilly habitat and have been found as high as 2,000 meters elevation in bamboo jungles. These snakes are found in high numbers on islands around Thailand. I have found this species in some abundance along the shore in mangroves in Krabi province.

Behavior: Diurnal and arboreal. These snakes are very easily agitated, and once they get going they are slow to calm down. Their strikes are very fast, but have a short reach. These are known by snake handlers to have a “bad temper.”

These Thailand pit vipers can have many color variations. They are usually like the photo above – greyish with a bit of purple in the coloring. Some are very purple. We’ve also seen a brownish toned mangrove pit viper with some yellow highlights. Now for our top photo we have a greenish toned viper. Obviously – color is highly variable in this species. Tom Charlton found black variations on Langkawi Island in Malaysia.

Venom toxicity: Venomous and very toxic to humans. Though people have died as a result of bites from this snake, this is not usually the case. Symptoms – pain, severe swelling, bruising, blistering, and necrosis are more likely.

Here (it isn’t live any longer) is a study of treating a bite by this snake with T. albolabris antivenom from the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute with some success.

Yep, that’s a mangrove pit viper (Crypteletrops purpureomaculatus). Here’s the FACT SHEET for it (click) They have a strong venom, and sometimes a strong attitude to go with it. So lucky your foot wasn’t bitten. I wrote you email. Cheers, Vern

We were in Koh Samui a few years ago in their airport which is outdoor though covered with a roof, with tree’s doted around the seating areas. A snake suddenly fell from one with a huge thud, almost onto my mother, and quickly slinked under her chair while we moved away. It was quite thick and of substantial size though it was hard to tell how long exactly. It was deep black and didn’t seem to have any other colour on it, unfortunately I didn’t get a good look at the head before my dad cleverly pulled me away, which would’ve helped me realise what type it was. I’ve wondered ever since what exactly it was, the employees of the airport were completely terrified and they killed the snake fairly quickly after moving everyone away, when we asked about it they said it’s one of the most venomous snakes on the island. The darker purply black colour of the mangrove pit viper seem to match it best but I’m not sure.

Hmm, interesting. I haven’t seen mangrove pit vipers climb trees to any height. One meter off the ground or water is as high as I’ve seen them. Doesn’t mean they don’t climb way up into a tree, so maybe it was that. They don’t tend to be so black though, unless it was a melanistic species with an abundance of dark pigment. What was the general shape and size? 1 meter long? Long tapered tail, or just rather thick and pudgy like a viper?

I was lucky enough to see one in Singapore yesterday. Blood on its cheek and its tail, and a fresh bulge in its mid-section. Consequently it was placid and loathe to move about. You can use the photo if you like :D https://www.flickr.com/photos/maixiu/30303243844/

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Thailand has 200+ snake species with about 35 of them venomous and deadly (on land).
I started this site to educate Thais, expats, and visitors to Thailand about snakes. Many people kill the snakes they see here, while in many cases - they are non-venomous and completely harmless. With this site I hope to give people a better idea of what is harmful and what isn't.

Browse the many snake photos and videos here so you can identify snakes you see on your porch, in your bed, or underfoot.

If you have been bitten by a snake - go to a hospital FIRST. Don't waste time looking it up on the internet. With some snakes you need to have medical help as fast as possible. With others you have some time. I know a Thai man whose brother died in less than 10 minutes from a monocled cobra snakebite.

There are venomous (some say 'poisonous' erroneously) snakes everywhere in Thailand. Friends have had cobras in their kitchen, and others had kraits in the garage. Green vipers love bushes and trees near water and walkways. Malayan pit vipers are on the ground at night.

Bookmark this site so you can quickly identify snakes you have seen. Notice the variety of venomous and non-venomous snakes in Thailand - and realize that they come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns.